Baked Spaghetti

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water for 8 minutes then drain and set aside.

While spaghetti is cooking, heat a large pan over medium high heat. Add about 1–2 tablespoons of olive oil and saute onions until translucent. Add ground beef, garlic, garlic salt, onion powder and pepper. Brown meat until thoroughly cooked.

Once meat is done, turn off stove and the drain fat from the pan. Turn heat back to medium high and add pasta sauce, salt and sugar. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remember though, the cheese will add another layer of saltiness as well.

Spray the bottom and sides of a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Ladle sauce into the bottom of the pan, just enough to cover the bottom of the baking dish. Add half of the cooked spaghetti to the dish. Top spaghetti with half of the pasta sauce. Using half of the ricotta, place spoonfuls of the ricotta on top of the pasta sauce. Then top with 1 cup of mozzarella and ¼ cup of the Parmesan cheese. Repeat with spaghetti, pasta sauce and cheeses.

Cover pan with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Remove from oven and let sit for at least 5 minutes. Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.